- 14/11/2018
- Media Releases
Leading international metals executive to take the helm as Liberty drives towards 5m tonnes UK GREENSTEEL target
Cornelius Louwrens
Fast-growing industrials group, Liberty, part of Sanjeev Gupta’s global GFG Alliance, has appointed Cornelius Louwrens, one of the European metals industry’s most prominent figures, as chief executive of its UK steel division.
Mr Louwrens, who is currently chief executive of NBH Plate, part of the international NLMK Group, will take up his post in February and will be responsible both for the performance and sustainability of the existing Liberty Steel UK portfolio and for leading the Group towards its target of building 5m tonnes of GREENSTEEL production capacity. In addition, he will support Liberty’s global growth strategy in the steel sector.
He will succeed current CEO of Liberty Steel UK, Jon Bolton, who is stepping into the role of International Development Director, leading the Group’s ambitious expansion drive outside the UK.
A mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Pretoria in South Africa, who studied management at Kellogg Business School in the USA, Mr. Louwrens has more than 20 years’ experience in senior positions with some of the world’s largest steel companies, including ArcelorMittal and Tata.
His most recent leadership roles have been with the NLMK Group. In addition to his role as CEO of NBH Plante, he is a member of the Management Board of NLMK International BV and is also responsible for driving operational efficiency across all NLMK sites in the EU and USA. NLMK operates a vertically-integrated business model, an approach favoured by Liberty under its GREENSTEEL strategy
Sanjeev Gupta, founder of Liberty and executive chairman of the GFG Alliance said: “Cornelius brings us a rare combination of top-calibre technical qualifications, excellent operational skills and world-class business leadership. As Liberty expands it footprint across the globe, it is essential that we attract high-calibre experienced leaders such as Cornelius to guide and develop key parts of business.”
“Jon has done a tremendous job for us over the past three years, firmly establishing our steel business in the UK and helping us expand outwards. It’s important that he now concentrates fully on that wider international role,” he added.
Mr Louwrens said: “Liberty has been a story of extraordinary growth over recent years and there is lots more potential to build the business so I’m extremely excited about being part of this.”
Latest News
View All
GFG Foundation doubles the size of its UK Student programme
Students from across South Yorkshire have the chance to participate in an innovative programme led by the GFG Foundation, providing...
View
The journey towards EU green steel
LIBERTY held a highly successful debate in Brussels on the “Future of the EU Steel Industry” with key EU decision...
View
UK steel sector – survival or renaissance?
Following years of struggle against an uncompetitive cost base, the UK steel industry is in crisis, requiring urgent restructuring to ensure...
View
LIBERTY Steel UK to forge a viable way forward for its businesses and workforce
In the face of the UK steel industry’s severe competitiveness issues LIBERTY Steel UK (LSUK) is to implement the next...
View